Nigerian Arrested in India Over N290m Drug Trafficking Network -

A 44-year-old Nigerian national, Samuel Ikkena, has been arrested in Bengaluru for allegedly operating a large-scale drug distribution network involving illicit substances valued at over N290 million.

Ikkena was apprehended by officers of the Yelahanka Police in Karnataka State following intelligence reports linking him to an underground narcotics ring.

Authorities said he disguised his operations as a clothing business while secretly trafficking drugs across the city.

According to investigators, the suspect sourced MDMA crystals, commonly known as ecstasy, from suppliers near Bannerghatta at relatively lower prices and resold them through a well-organised network at significantly higher rates.

MDMA is a psychoactive substance often abused for recreational purposes.
During the operation, police recovered about 2 kilograms of MDMA crystals, alongside 31.396 kilograms of cannabis, 220 grams of hydro ganja, and quantities of heroin.

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A motorcycle believed to have been used for drug distribution was also seized. Officials estimated the total value of the confiscated drugs at approximately Rs 2.57 crore (about N180 million), with a potential street value exceeding Rs 5.14 crore (around N360 million).

Further findings revealed that Ikkena had been residing in India since 2012 after arriving on a business visa. He initially engaged in garment trading in Delhi and Mumbai before relocating to Bengaluru in 2025, where he allegedly expanded into drug trafficking.

His arrest was part of a broader crackdown on drug-related activities across Bengaluru, targeting both students and the general public.

The coordinated operation led to the arrest of 11 suspects, including two foreign nationals and several local collaborators.

Among those arrested were individuals accused of supplying heroin within the city. Police recovered additional narcotics and communication devices from the suspects, indicating a well-connected supply chain involving both interstate and international links.

Authorities have since charged the suspects under India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and have launched further investigations to identify and apprehend the major figures behind the network.